Sweet Potatoes without all the Goo

lporter229
lporter229 Posts: 4,907 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I love sweet potatoes, but I am not a big fan of all of the ooey, gooey, extra sweet casseroles that usually show up at Thanksgiving. I am looking for a sweet potato side dish that is pretty au natural. Anybody have any good recipes to share? Hold the marshmallows please!
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Replies

  • Gail3260
    Gail3260 Posts: 354 Member
    We don't have Thanksgiving here in the UK so I don't know what you would usually do with them.

    I like them boiled and then mashed with a spoonful of natural yogurt (or sour cream if you have calories to spare) and a little garlic.
  • Lindaspencer
    Lindaspencer Posts: 226 Member
    butter - salt and pepper - are great - but if you dont want the butter - then i have done chicken broth - or vegetable broth - along with salt and pepper - bake and it is pretty natural - verses -butter, brown sugar - marshmallows - or even syrup ive seen on them - lol -
  • shannonshay1
    shannonshay1 Posts: 69 Member
    I like them cooked the the oven with skin on, then peeled, mashed (no dairy or butter) and sprinkle with cinnamon. The cinnamon really added to the sweetness of the potato.
  • angulasalajillo
    angulasalajillo Posts: 84
    I prick them with a fork, stick in the microwave for 5 minutes and then cut into wedges, spray with olive oil and roll in herbs and spices.
    Stick them in the oven for 15 minutes and you have some crispy, tasty sweet potato wedges :-)
  • Lizzy622
    Lizzy622 Posts: 3,705 Member
    Just plain old baked sweet potato is what we are having. In the past, I made sweet potato layered with apples and cinnamon or pumpkin spice. You can put a streusel topping on but I just like it plain, no sugar added.
  • conniemaxwell5
    conniemaxwell5 Posts: 943 Member
    Cut them into 1" cubes, toss in olive or canola oil, salt and pepper and roast at 400 until tender (20 minutes or so). You can add other root vegetables to this mixture too and do a medley.

    Bake them whole and serve with a sprinkling of cinnamon and sugar

    Cut into 1" cubes, combine with apple wedges, fresh cranberries and walnuts or pecans. Toss in canola oil, salt, a little brown sugar and cinnamon. Place on a large piece of foil that has been sprayed with cooking spray (big enough to close over the mixture and seal). Fold over foil and seal well. Place on baking sheet and bake at 375 for 30 minutes, turning over halfway through for even browning.
  • MysteriousMerlin
    MysteriousMerlin Posts: 2,270 Member
    I agree, it's like pie casserole sometimes.

    I think this year I'm going to do mashed sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes. Just bake, cool, peel off the skin, smash, a little salt and a lot of black pepper, and cram it into a crock pot to keep warm. A little unsalted chicken stock if it's a bit too thick.
  • stealthSLOTH
    stealthSLOTH Posts: 695 Member
    I love the goo and the wee little marshmallows, but my mom made this last year and it was pretty good.
    http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/roasted-sweet-potatoes-with-honey-butter-recipe/index.html

    = = =

    Also, the egg whites give these sweet potato 'fries' an interesting texture and help the spices coat the pieces of sweet potato.
    http://www.marthastewart.com/261838/baked-sweet-potato-fries


    ^Neither may be as 'au natural' as you had envisioned, but these are both good. The baked fries are surprisingly satisfying!

    HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
  • MeredithLee11
    MeredithLee11 Posts: 192 Member
    I've never understood that dish… Marshmallows ar dinner? Bleh!

    I love simple roasted cubed sweet potato. Toss them with olive oil, salt and pepper (garlic and thyme also play very well with this dish). In the oven at 450F for about 40 minutes, giving them a toss/stir about half way through.

    You could also mash them the exact same way you would regular potatoes and throw in some salt, pepper and minced garlic.
  • BikerGirlElaine
    BikerGirlElaine Posts: 1,631 Member
    Sweet potatoes are already very sweet as is. I have made this before and really loved it. It's 'special' enough to do on Thanksgiving. This is from http://www.radiantrecovery.com/thanksgiving.htm There are some other sweet potato recipes there too that you can check out. I made the sweet potato and wild rice stuffing one year but I wasn't a fan of it.


    Twice- Baked Sweet Potato With Citrus and Mascarpone

    Ingredients:

    4 lbs. (6-8 medium-large) sweet potatoes (to yield 2 lbs. cooked sweet potato pulp)
    ½ cup fresh orange juice, with pulp
    8 oz. mascarpone cheese
    salt
    white pepper
    1 whole orange
    chopped fresh chervil
    Directions:

    1. Preheat oven to 375º.

    2. Bake sweet potatoes until a fork can be inserted easily, about 1 hour.

    3. Cut potatoes in half lengthwise and carefully scrape pulp out of skins, leaving about 1/2" of potato lining the skin.

    4. In a food processor, combine cooked pulp, orange juice, and 4 oz. mascarpone. Purée just until mixed.

    5. Refill sweet potato skins with purée. Heat through for 15 minutes.

    6. Preheat Broiler.

    7. Dollop remaining mascarpone on top of each potato. Place underneath broiler just until mascarpone begins to brown. Watch carefully to avoid burning.

    8. Using a fine zester, grate zest from one orange over potato halves and garnish with chopped chervil. Serve immediately.

    Edited to more fully link to the source page
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    I love that version of sweet potato - but I can't eat it all the time.

    I make them the same way i make mashed potatoes- only butter and a little brown sugar- with some S/P and maybe cinammin. BF dearest likes them super sweet so he is not allowed to add the brown sugar to the whole mix- just to his plate.

    I like the idea of roasting them with apple wedges cran berrries stuff!
  • twixlepennie
    twixlepennie Posts: 1,074 Member
    I love sweet potatoes, but I am not a big fan of all of the ooey, gooey, extra sweet casseroles that usually show up at Thanksgiving. I am looking for a sweet potato side dish that is pretty au natural. Anybody have any good recipes to share? Hold the marshmallows please!

    My favorite way to eat them-thinly slice them and spread them out on a baking sheet. Drizzle with a bit of oil and sprinkle salt and cinnamon sugar on top. Bake @ 400 for 8 minutes, flip and bake another 7-9 minutes, until they're just turning crisp :heart:
  • lporter229
    lporter229 Posts: 4,907 Member
    These are all great ideas. Thanks so much. now I don't know which to choose!
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I have never liked them with all that sweet goo either.

    They are wonderful baked or mashed, but my favorite is roasted. Just cut up, toss in oil, season with whatever seasonings you like (I like garlic powder, black pepper, and just a little cinnamon and cayenne), and bake at 375 - 400 until they start to brown.
  • chezjuan
    chezjuan Posts: 747 Member
    We always used to just simply bake them whole when I was younger. I still love them that way, with just a touch of butter.

    Some years we would scoop the insides out of the skin and mash them, but leave the seasoning (butter, cinnamon, etc.) up to the individual diner.
  • AliceLMS
    AliceLMS Posts: 2,425 Member
    Peeled cut up and baked in a casserole with tart apple slices topped with a little brown suagar and walnuts.
  • sunnshhiine
    sunnshhiine Posts: 727 Member
    Enter Sweet Potatoe Casserole with Carmalized Apples -- just so happens to be a new favorite of mine and my mothers. :)

    http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/weekend/food/recipes/2013/11/15/sweet-potato-casserole/3477733/

    There's a pan of it currently in my fridge at home... AND I'm making it for Thanksgiving this year!

    I omit the oil in the sweet potato portion (not for carmalizing the apples) and use all applesauce instead. I also only use half the amount of suggested Ginger, and substitute cinnamon for the other half. I loaded the recipe into MFP and it's only about 175 calories per serving. Not bad if I say so myself.

    OR you could just do the tried-and-true plain mashed sweet potatoes topped with cinnamon. also a favorite of mine. :)
  • avskk
    avskk Posts: 1,787 Member
    I cut them into thick chunks and roast them in the slow-cooker with a drizzle of honey, another drizzle of sherry, and tons of garam masala.
  • myfrogs11
    myfrogs11 Posts: 53 Member
    Anything that's slightly sweet on it's own, sweet potatoes, squash etc, I like to go savory on. Just roast with some olive oil, salt and pepper, herbs. I don't like my dinner food sweet, so I go this route.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    I cut them into thick chunks and roast them in the slow-cooker with a drizzle of honey, another drizzle of sherry, and tons of garam masala.

    that's interesting- I would have never thought to do that!
  • janer4jc
    janer4jc Posts: 238 Member
    I love the goo and the wee little marshmallows, but my mom made this last year and it was pretty good.
    http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/roasted-sweet-potatoes-with-honey-butter-recipe/index.html

    I looked this one up and it looks pretty good. I'm going to give it a try Thursday.
  • LoggingForLife
    LoggingForLife Posts: 504 Member
    Check out skinnytaste.com. She had a good recipe.
  • ahamm002
    ahamm002 Posts: 1,690 Member
    This is my favorite recipe for sweet potatoes. Quick, simple, and I get rave reviews whenever I make them. You don't need to grill them, they bake just fine at 400 deg. for 25 - 30 minutes.

    http://www.amazingribs.com/recipes/potatoes/sweet_potato_steak_fries.html
  • cynthiar1025
    cynthiar1025 Posts: 14 Member
    I've made this one and it is pretty good.

    http://www.marthastewart.com/344434/sweet-potatoes-with-caramelized-apples
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Peeled cut up and baked in a casserole with tart apple slices topped with a little brown suagar and walnuts.

    This reminds me of a Weight Watcher's recipe.

    The brown sugar was mixed with a bit of melted butter and (thawed) apple juice concentrate.....cinnamon and finely chopped crystalized ginger was in it too. It was baked with a foil cover, and remove the cover half way through.

    Anyway, I made this with (semi) tart apples.....ginger has some bite .....yum!
  • silver_arrow3
    silver_arrow3 Posts: 1,373 Member
    My roommate's mother cuts them up into cubes, then tosses them with onions in butter and tops with chopped bacon and bakes them until they are soft and the bacon has cooked. SO GOOD!
  • TheGymGypsy
    TheGymGypsy Posts: 1,023 Member
    Slice them into thin chips, spray with coconut oil, sprinkle with cinnamon, and bake! It's a delicious treat, especially topped with maple syrup or peanut butter. It's still sweet, but not overwhelmingly so and it's healthy!
  • monisiaczeq
    monisiaczeq Posts: 131 Member
    my favourite with sweet potatoes:

    chop them into wedges
    boil them for about 5 mins
    then i put them in a big with some tomato puree and chilii powder (i like my food spicy, but you can add whatever spice you like) and mix well
    put them on the baking tray (without the bag obviously) and bake until nice and crispy!
  • tasharock
    tasharock Posts: 136 Member
    Bump for ideas!
  • climbing_trees
    climbing_trees Posts: 726 Member
    Take two large sweet potatoes peeled, boiled and mashed. Mix with a box of silken tofu. (The texture is amazing, so fluffy~)
    I added apple chunks and cinnamon to mine, topped with oatmeal, pecans, and a very small amount of brown sugar.
    Yum!

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